AUTHOR=Towner Randy , Larson Abigail , Gao Yong , Ransdell Lynda B. 

TITLE=Longitudinal monitoring of workloads in women's division I (DI) collegiate basketball across four training periods

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

VOLUME=Volume 5 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2023.1108965

DOI=10.3389/fspor.2023.1108965

ISSN=2624-9367

ABSTRACT=Women’s basketball is a fast-growing, dynamic sport that spans 8 or more months, with athletes competing in 30+ games in a season. The aim of this study was to quantify and profile the external load of practices and games during a Power-5 DI Women's Collegiate Basketball season. Specifically, weekly variations and acute to chronic workload ratios (ACWR) were examined during four distinct training periods of the year: 8-hour pre-season, 20-hour pre-season, non-conference, and conference game play. Eleven subjects participated in daily external load monitoring during practice and games via Catapult’s ClearSky T6 inertial measurement units (IMU). Average PlayerLoad (PL), PlayerLoad per minute (PL*min-1), high inertial movement analysis (High-IMA), and Jumps were quantified using Catapult Openfield software. Averages, standard deviations, and confidence intervals were calculated for training period comparisons, and Cohen’s d was calculated as a measure of effect size. Findings include normative values to provide context for the demands experienced across an entire season. PL was significantly higher during non-conference play than during any of the other three training periods (p<0.05). Descriptive data enumerate percent change and ACRW variations throughout the season. These data can be used to describe the physical demands across a season (e.g., acute to chronic workload increases) and provide physical profile guidelines for coaches.